Staircase for scenic effects.



A.. COLLINS.

sTAmcAsx- Foa SCENIC EFEcTs.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-1 6. 1917.

Pmtentdl July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l A. COLLENS.

STAIRCASE FOR SCENIC EFECTS.

APPLICATION man oc. 16. :911.

Paten-md my 23, ma.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

ARTHUR COLLINS, 0F WEYBRTDGE, ENGLAND.

STAIRCASE FOR SGENTC EFFECTS.

Specification of :Letters Patent.

Patented duly 23, 1918.

.application led Uetober 16, 1917. Serial No. 196,949.

To all 'whom t may concern:

.lle it known that ll, Anni-ron (loi/nine, managing director, a subject of the King of llngland, and residing at VVeybridge, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Trnprovements in Staircases for Scenic Effects, of which ,the following is a specieation.

This invention relates to a spiral staircase for the purpose of producing scenic elifects. This staircase is of a t'ansportable nature and is adapted to be locked in position upon a stage. A landing is arranged adjacent to the top oi? the stairway of the staircase so that artistes can pass from said stairway to the landing or vice versa. The staircase is preferably tapered in height and locked in position by a displaceable member adapted to engage the staircase. This displaceable member may be a locking bridge which with advantage forms or supports the landing in the form or' a gangway or platform by means or' which the artistes can' appear trom the borders and continue down the staircase to the stage level, or alternatively can ascend from the stage level and disappear behind the borders. T prelferred, however, the landing in the form of a platform or gangway may be separate iirom the locking bridge, but in any case the landing is arranged adjacent to the top et the staircase and concealed trom the audience.

The spiral. staircase is so arranged as to be revoluble around a longitudinal axis, or with a central. column, and for this purpose T support the said column at bottoni below the stage, and at top preferably by a displaceable girder (forming the locking bridge) secured to the ily-rail. The lower part of the staircase is provided with wheeled members such as balls or rollers whereby the staircase may be supported upon a correspondingly shaped bracket. TV ith a view to ilacilitating the travel oil' the spiral staircase on or across the stage, or from one theater to another', T employ caster wheels, trailing` wheels or the like as these betteln supports ior the transpm'table staircase. These caster wheels may be obtained by means ol bearing-.gs or rollers mounted on swivel arnis piveted to the bottoni of the staircase. Y

The staircase may rotate with the center either d. .i

ing means being employed. The spiral staircase may be illuminated in any desired manner, and in some forms l may provide balustrades or banisters to the stair case which conceal flags or the like, said flags being adapted to be projected when desired and thereupon floating with the staircase. lthere two or more of these revoluble staireases and central columns are employed, they may be arranged to rotate in opposite directions.

Upon the accompanying sheet oit drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the staircase adapted to be revolved. Fig. 2 is a plan view on a larger scale of a suitable driving gear for revolving the staircase. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation also on a larger scale oi' a coupling between the central column and the driving gear. Figa shows a caster roller for the foot ot the staircase. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing three staircases with separate drive to each column. Fig. 6 is a diagram of another locking device for the top ot the column. Fig. 7 shows a balustrade with Flagstaff recessed therein. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing duplicate couplings and alternative drives for the staircase.

Tn these drawings a spiral staircase is shown at l,.having a stairway 2 extending outwardly to balustrades or banisters 3, the said stairway in Fig. l extending inwardly to the central column fl. The stairway is thus wound spirally around the central column l. This column 4t is at top shown secured te a cross girder 5 by a strap or housing 6 which may contain a ball bearing oit any suitable type. This girder 5 or bridge is a displaceable member arranged to be lowered on to the column 4 to lock the staircase in position, the housing 6 being appropriately situated to engage the column.

At bottom the central column 4L rests upon a thrust bearing 7 which takes the weight of the column. Below the stage level 8, there is arranged an annular bracket 9 through the center of which shaft lpass s and may be guided, and upon the periphery l0 of which the staircase is supported by means olf ball-bearing rollers il. This periphery :forms an annular nithway 'for the rollers ll. iliny number oll these rollers ll may be einployefih arranged at intervals around the i' the staircase. A. `worin wheel 12 is md. ragion the lower end ezt celineu a,

said wheel 12 being engaged and driven by a worm 13 rotated by any suitable source of power. Tn Figs. 1 and 2, an electric motor la is shown for this purpose but any other suitable source of power may be employed.

l Tt will beunderstood that by means of the worm drive 12 13, the central column t will be rotated carrying with it the spiral staircase, and artistes may travel up or down the stairs 2 from one end of the staircase to the other.

A landing such as a platform or gamg'wayl is arranged in proximity to the upper part of the staircase. Thus, the girder 5 in addition to locking the staircase in position may be arranged to form a support from which a landing 5 may be suspended (see Fig. l) so that the artistes ascending the staircase can Vstep from the latter on to said landing 5 after disappearing into or behind the borders Bindicated in dotted lines. For this purpose the gangway or platform 5 may be provided with a hand-rail 5* and is arranged Within a suitable distance of the top step of the stairway 2.

The girder 5 is arranged to be lowered into the position in which it engages with the column 4E and locks the staircase in position, by any suitable means. For this purpose the girder may be carried by plunger rods P hydraulically operated and the girder be pivotally linked to flyrails F.

In Fig. 6, I have shown another method of engaging the bridge 5 with the top of the column 4L so as to lock the staircase in position. The bridge is here hinged or pivoted at 5a to the flyrail F and provided upon its upper surface withthe hand-rail 5". The bridge is recessed at 5c to engage the conical top of the column t. A ball race or similar bearing may be inserted in the conical recess, if desired, to bear upon said conical top. An intermediate landing 5d is shown at the top of the stairway 2 and adjacent to the gangway afforded by the bridge 5 and its hand-rail 5h. j

.Preferably the rollers 11 are of a journal bearing type as shown in Fig. a. They are there represented on a shaft 15 carried by a fork 16 which is vertically pivoted at 17l to an arm 18 secured to the bottom of the staircase. This fork device will swivel in the Vmanner of a trailing or caster wheel and facilitate the moving of the staircase upon the stage into or out of position, or from one theater' to another.

In lieu of the bearings shown for the top and bottom of the central column, rother forms of anti-friction bearings may be employed.

Tmay also interpose a coupling device between Vthe column land the driving gear. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig.

The column -l is here shown divided as at l, et with squared ends` 1S) 1U. The staircase is connected with the upper portion -.L and 1f). A sleeve 20, correspondingly shaped interiorly, is arranged to couple the ends 1S), 19, normally together. When it is required to disconnect the ends, the sleeve 2O is raised to the position shown in dotted lines so that its lower end is above the squared shaft 4t and maintained in that position by a pin 21 passing through a hole into a corresponding hole Q3 in the squared end 19 of shaft t.

The column 4C and staircase 1 may be driven in any other convenient manner, as from the top of the column 4, which arrangement will be obvious from Fig. 1 or Fig. 8. Tn order to reverse the direction of rotation ofthe column and staircase, I may secure to the top of the column et a second worm wheel 12 arranged to be driven by a worm 18 in an opposite direction to the first, and provide couplings of the type shown in Fig. 3 at each end of the column a so that by engaging one or other coupling the column 1 may be driven inv either direction. Such arrangement is represented diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 5 T have shown three staireases 1, 1a, 1b, all supported at top by a girdcr 5 designed to be attached to the usual ilyrail F of the stage and to be raised and lowered by hydraulic means or otherwise: l-l'ydraulic cylinders are indicated at H. Each staircase is separately driven by a worm drive. These three staircascs may be driven, for instance, in the same direction, or the outer two may be driven in one direction and the center one in the opposite direction. The girder 5 is secured to the tops of the columns a so as to guide and hold them` and for this purpose the girder 5 may be provided with three straps G and be arranged to be lowered to engage the columns 4L in said straps, when the columns have been brought to the required positions.

Fig. 1. also shows flags or the like. on stalls projecting from the exterior of the staircase. For this purpose some ol the balustrades S may be made hollow or be recessed, as at Q5', (see Fig. 7) so that normally the lag and its stall' will be. housed in the balustrade. A\ lthough only the llagstali" is shown, a suitable latehing device. as represented in Fig. 7, may be employed to hold the tlagsta'tl' and i'iag in the concealed position. This device consists of a cover piece 2G for the top of the lagstatll 2l, the latter being pivoted at bottoni as at 2T. The cover piece or latch 2o' normally prevents the tlagstaii from falling out, but by pulling I the latch to one side, c. y., by means of a cord QS, the tlagstall` will -tall forward and outwardly, assisted by centaifugal force as the staircase revolves. The latches 26 may all be connected to a common controlling cord so that all Haes will :tall torward and be displayed simultaneously.

rll`he staircase may be externally illuminated or decorated by means of electric lamps, as shown at 29. j

it is to be noted that the displaceable member 5 which en eapges and locks the -top o t the staircase does not hinder the rotation oi' the latter but maintains it upright when in the desired position.

"lhe borders indicated at l may be the usual theatrical drapery and depend over the top oil the staircase so as to conceal from the spectators the topmost stairs of the stairway 2 as well as the landing, The artistes are thus enabled to mount the stair'- way and disappear behind the borders or to appear from the borders and descend the staircase to the stage.

Having thus described my invention, what i l claim as such and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

l. A stair case ttor scenic ei'lects, comprising a spiral stairway, means ttor supporting said stairway at bottom, said means comprising` wheeled members to allow the staircase to be moved Yfrom one position to another, means ior engaging and retaining the stair case in the desired position, and a landing adjacent to the top ot the stairway so that artistes can pass to or from said staircase and said landing.

2. A staircase for scenic effects, comprising; a stairway wound spirally around a Vertical. axis, said stairway tapering upwardly, means for supporting said stairway at bottom upon a stage, said means allowing the staircase to be moved trom one position to another, means for engaging` the upper part of the staircase and retaining the saine in the desired position, and a landing` adjacent to the top ot the stairway so that artistes can pass to or 'trom said siaircase and said landing.

3. staircase tor scenic elliects, conlprising a spirally wound stairway, said stairway taperingv upwariflly, means 'tor supporting;- said stairwaj.' at bottom upon a stage saidv .means allowing' the staircase to be moved 'trom one position to another, means 'toi' engaging the upper part. oi the staircase and re ainiue the same in the desired position, a landing' adjacent to the top of the stairway so that artistes can pass to or from said staircase and said landing, and means ttor revolving` said staircase when in the desired position.

Afi. The combination in a staircase 'lor scenic ctliects, of a spiral stairway which is tapered upwardly, revolulole men'ibers carried lby the lower part of said stai.1;"\'\'fay, said members allowing.;l the staircase to be wheeled from place to place, means .tor engaging` the upper part of the staircase and lockinp` it :in position, and a landing,` adapted to be brought into position adjacent to the top ot said stairway. u

lhe combination in a staircase for scenic etlects, et a spiral stairway which is tapered upwardly, revoluble members car-- ried by the lower part oli said stairway, said members allowingl the staircase to be wheeled from place to place, means tor engaging the upper part ot the staircase and locking),` it in position, a landing adapted to be broiiight into position adjacentto the top of said stairway, and means whereby said. staircase can be rotated around. its longitudinal axis.

G. A staircz se for scenic etllects, comprising' a spiral stairway, wheel members arran ged upon. the bottom of said staircase so that said staircase can be wheeled from one position to another, a displaceable member adapted to engage the upper part of said staircase and lock it in position, and a landing arranged adjacent to the top et said stairway so that artistes ascending said stairway can step on to said landing.

'i'. A revolnble staircase for scenic effects, comprising` in combination a tapering" spiral stairway, means for supportingsaid staircase at bottom and at top, said supporting means at bottom being secured to a stage, means tor rotating said staircase, a landing adjacent to the top oit said stairway, and

lor supporting' said staircase at bottom and at top, a lanc'lingl adjacent to the top oi said stairway, means lfor concealing,r said landing', lmlustrades to said staircase, and means ttor rotating` said. staircase.

l0. [i staircase it'or scenic elliects, compriss airway wound spirally around a vertical axis, wheel members arrangeil upon. the bottoni ot said staircase so that said staircase can be wheeled 'from one `position toanother. a displaceable member adapted to en-` ,trage the ui'iper part ot' said staircase and. loch it in position, and a lamliinr arranged adjacent to the top of si id stairway so that artisti-is ascendinp; said stairway ci. .n step on to said landing, said landing being movable with said displaceable member so as to come into operative position relatively to the stairway when said displaceable member engages the staircase.

11. A staircase for scenic effects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, balustrades to said stairway, said balustrades being connected together, wheeled members upon the bottom of said staircase so that said staircase can be moved from one position to another, a landing adapted to be brought into proximity to the top of said stairway and means for engaging and guiding the upper part of said staircase.

12. A staircase for scenic effects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, balustrades to said stairway, said balustrades being connected together, trailing wheel members upon the bottom of said staircase so that said staircase can be moved from one position to another, a landing` adapted to be brought into proximity to the top of said stairway and concealed from the spectators, and means for engaging and guiding the upper .part of said staircase, said means including a displaceable member.

13. A staircase for scenic effects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, balustrades to said stairway, said balustrades being connected together, wheeled members upon the bottom of said staircase so that said staircase can be moved from one position to another, a landing adapted to be brought into proximity to the top of said stairway and concealed from the spectators, and means for .engaging and guiding the upper part of said staircase, said means including a displaceable member, and means for rotating said staircase about the longitudinal axis of its spiral stairway.

14. A staircase for scenic effects, having means whereby it may be wheeled into position, means whereby itmay be locked in position upon a stage, and a landing arranged adjacent to the top of said staircase and concealed from the spectators.

15. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic effects, having means whereby it may be wheeled into position, means whereby it may be locked in position upon a stage, and

a landing arranged adjacent to the top of said staircase and concealed from the spectators, and means whereby said staircase can be rotated.

1G. A ievoluble, tapering spiral staircase for scenic effects, having means whereby it may be wheeled into position, said means serving also for the rotation of the staircase, means whereby the staircase may be locked in position upon astage, power-operated means whereby said staircase can be rotated, a landing arranged adjacent to the top of said staircase, and means for concealing said landing from the view of the spectators.

17. A revoluble staircase, comprising a tapering spiral stairway and lmlustrades, said staircase having means whereby it may be wheeled into position upon a stage, poweroperated means for revolving said spiral staircase, means whereby the staircase can be locked in position at top without hindering its rotation, a landing adapted to be brought into proximity to the top of said stairway, and means for concealing Yfrom the spectators said landing and the top of said stairway.

1S. A revoluble spiral staircase having means whereby it may be wheeled into position while upright, means for engaging and locking said staircase, in position without hindering its revolution, a landing adapted to be brought into position in proximity to the top of said staircase so that artistes can step from said staircase to said landing or vice versa. means for concealing from the audience said landing and the top of said staircase, and means for revolving said staircase.

19. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic efects, comprising an upwardly tapered stairway, means including wheeled members whereby said staircase can be wheeled into the desired position upon a stage, means for revolving said staircase, said last mentioned means utilizing said wheeled members, a displaceable bridge adapted to engage the top of the staircase and lock it in position without hindering its rotation, a fiy-rail, said bridge being pivotally secured to said fly-rail, a gangway carried by said bridge which when said bridge engages said staircase, assumes a position adjacent to llie top of said staircase, and means for concealing from the spectators said gangway and the top of said staircase.

20. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic effects, comprising a spiral stairway, a central column around which the stairway is arranged, means whereby said staircase can be wheeled from place to place, means for engaging and locking said column, a landing adjacent to the top of said staircase, means for concealing said landing, and means for rotating said staircase.

21. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic effects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, a central vertical column around which the spiral stairway is wound, means for rotating said' staircase, wheeled members arranged at the base of said staircase, said wheeled members allowing the staircase to be moved from one position to another and also serving for the rotation oil. the staircase, means for engaging and locking said column to support and lock the staircase in position, a landing adjacent to the top oit said staircase and means :tor concealing said landing.

22. A revoluble spiral staircase tor scenic eliects, comprising a 'tapering spiral stairway, a central vertical column about which the stairway is arranged, means for rotating said staircase, means ttor supporting said column at each end, wheeled members arranged at the bottom oit said staircase, said wheeled. members allowing the staircase to be moved from one position to another and also serving jlor the rotation of the staircase, means i'er engaging and locking said column to support and loch the staircase in position, a landing adjacent to the top of said staircase and means ior concealing said landing.

A revoluble spi 'al staircase tor scenic elects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, a central upright column about which the stairway is spirally wound, the stairs of said staircase forming a continuous flight from bottom to top and said stair projecting late ally `from said upright column, means ttor rotating said staircase around its central axis, means for supporting said column at each end, wheeled members arranged at the bottom oit said staircase, said wheeled members allowing the staircase to be .moved from one position to another and also serving for the rotation of the staircase, mea-us for en gaging and locking said colmnn to support and lock the staircase in position, a landing adjacent to the top of said staircase and means iter concealing from the spectators said landing and the top ot' said staircase.

2a. A revoluble spiral staircase :tor scenic eil'ects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway, a central column about which the stairway is arranged, means for rotating said staircase, means tor supporting said column at each end, wheeled members arranged at the bottom or said staircase, said wheeled lmembers allowing the staircase to be moved from one position to another and also serving for the rotation of the staircase, means for engaging and locking said column to support and lock the staircase in position, a landing adjacent to the top oit' said staircase and means for concealing` said landing and the top of said staircase, said central column being provided with a worm wheel, a worm engaging said worm wheel and means tor driving said worm.

25. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic etfects, comprising a spiral stairway, swiveling wheeled members attached to the bottom ot said stairway, said swiveling wheeled members allowing said staircase to be wheeled from one position to another upon a stage, a bracket arranged below the stage and having an annular periphery, said wheeled members adapted also to travel upon said annular periphery when the stairmit ease is in operative position, means for engaging the upper part oil said staircase, means for revolving said staircase, and a landing arranged in proximity to the top oi said stairway with means for concealing from the spectators said top and said landing.

2G. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic eliects, comprising a spiral stairway, wheeled members secured to the bottom of said stairway, means for engaging the up per part oi" the staircase, means for revolving said staircase, a display device carried by said staircase and means for automatically bringing said display devices into operation by the revolution of said staircase, and a landing adjacent to the top of said staircase.

27. A revoluble spiral staircase :for scenic etiects, comprising a spiral stairway, means for supporthig said stairway at top and bottom so as to permit it to be revolved, means for rotating said staircase by power-operated drive, means for disconnecting said staircase from said drive, and a landing adapted to be brought into proximity to the upper part oi said stairway.

28. fr spiral staircase .for scenic etlects, comprising a spiral stairway arranged around a central column and revoluble therewith, said column being supported at each end, a coupling interposed in the length of said column, and means for driving said cl umn through said coupling so as 'to revolve the staircase.

29. A spiral staircase for scenic effects, comprising a spiral stairway arranged about a central column and revoluble therewith, said column being supported at each end, a coupling interposed in the length oi said column and means for rotating said column and staircase in one direction through said coupling, a second coupling interposed in the length of the column and means :l'or driving said column and staircase through said second coupling in the direction opposite to the iirst.

30. A plurality oit spiral staircases for scenic effects, comprising spiral stairways each supported upon wheeled members and revoluble around the longitudinal axes of said spiral stairways, and a single locking member adapted to engage each oit the said staircases and maintain them in the desired position.

31. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic effects, said staircase tapering outwardly so as to be narrower' at the top than at the bottom and having a continuous flight of stairs from bottom to top, in combination with a laiuling arranged in proximity to the upper part of said staircase, and borders concealing said landing and the upper part of said staircase.

32. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic effects, comprising a spiral stairway secured to a central column, means for supporting said stairway at bottom upon wheeledmembers, a landing arranged in proximity to the top of said stairway, and means for engaging the top of said column, said last mentioned means including a bridge pivoted to one of the iiy-rails of the stage.

38. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic eiects, comprising a tapering spiral stairway itted with balustrades, means for supporting` said staircase at top and bottom, means for Wheeling said staircase into position, means for rotating said staircase in one direction, separate means for rotating said staircase in the other direction, and a landing adapted to be brought into proximity to the upper end of said stairway.

34. A revoluble spiral staircase for scenic ciiiec'ts, eoniprising a tapering spiral stairway, a central (folunm to which said stairway is secured` balustrades to said stairway, means for wheelingsaid staircase in an upright position into place upon a stage, power-operated means ior rotating` .said staircase, means for engaging said column at top so as to maintain the stairway and column in the desired position, said means including a pivoted bridge, and a landing` adapted to be brought into proximitiv to the upper part of said stairway, said landinf v being carried by said pivot-ed bridge.

In testimony whereof I haw allixed my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

ARTHUR COLLI lVitnesses Vlo'ron F. FEENY, RICHARD HENRY LiNns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

